Every year growing up, around the holidays my mom’s kitchen turned into a production line for weeks on end. Mom was making thousands of biscotti to give out as holiday gifts to our teachers, friends and family. The sound of the food processor grinding almonds and the smell of vanilla and almond extract filled the house. Egg cartons stacked high in the fridge, and bags upon bags of biscotti piled up in the dining room, staged and ready to be handed out.
Each log of biscotti, when cut into individual cookies produces two small pieces that are a bit harder. Mom set aside these end pieces in a cookie jar on the counter for Alicia and me before placing the cookie sheets back in the oven for the second bake. On winter mornings the two of us would come downstairs and each fill up a bowl with the ends and pour milk over the top, treating the cookies like cereal!
As we got older we started to daydream with her about turning this all into a business. Then six years ago mom took the leap and opened up Joy's Biscotti, which she continues to run as a cottage bakery out of her home in Houston.
Mom’s a genius cook and baker. She certainly has much more patience and grace in the kitchen than I do. As a kid I always loved delivering the biscotti because I got to brag about my mom and share a bit of sweetness with loved ones. I’m so glad I get to continue that tradition in a way.
So friends, my mom makes biscotti, and it really is the best you’ll ever taste. And, she just redid her website, so take a peek.